Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



May 5, 1925. 1,536,129

.1. F. ocoNNoR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM original Filed July 19, 1922 2 sheets-she't l May 5, 1925.

J. F. OCONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 19. 1922 Patented May 5, 1925.

UNITED srnlf omen.

Joiiivr. o.eoi\ti\ton,..or CHICAGO, rrrinoisnssrenenx `iuesivii assieniaenrs, "ro wan. Minna, `ine., a .eonronarron or io,nminimun.`

,Praemien siiooKfaBsoaiii-ie ,Mauretanien `Applianon sied Juiy `19, 1922segiai no. -a75fsa` Renewed october-4, i924. i

fo all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, .Toi-IN F. OCoNNou, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ott Coolrand State `ot Illinois, have `invented a certain new and useful lniproijfement in Friction Shocki Absorbing Mechanisms, oit which the following isa full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had` to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in -friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

An object of the invention lis to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism `especially adapted for `railway draft rigcorresponding tothe "section lines 9)-2 and of Figure 1, respectively. Figure 4 `is an `elevational view of the exterior vside of one of the elongated lfriction shoes employed in my mechanism. And Figure 5 is an elevationalfviewro the outer casing employed my smechanism,'the saine being partly broken away in order to accommodate the view onthesheet.

In said' drawings, 10-7-10` denote the .usual channeldraft sills of a railway car undertrame, to the inner facesoi". which are secured liront stop lugs 11 and rear stop lugs '19.; The mechanism ils-.operatively associ ated with a drawbar,by `any suitable means,r such as the hooded rast yole Theyole` 13 and the shock absorbing mechanism therewithin are supported in operative position by a detachable saddle plate 14.

The improved shock absorbing` mechanism proper,` as shown, comprises, broadly, an outer casing A; an inner telescoped casing l; a series of" elongated 'friction shoes C: a main spring resistance 13; av plurality of auxiliary springs E; and a plurality of retainer boltsF.

i The outer casing A, preferably in the forward end and closed by `an integral back wall 15 at itsv inner or rear lend, saidwall 15 being laterally extended and suitably reinforced so as to adapt it to act as the "rear-follower of the mechanism in conjunction withtlie` stop lugs`12. At its iront end,

the outer casing A is also laterally flanged `as indicated at 16 to provide means `for `anchoring the inner ends of the retainer bolts F, the latter being anchored at their `other ends in suitable sockets 17' providedr in `a yfollower 18 formed integral with the inner casing` B at the front/or outer end of the latter. Y

" The inner casing B is also of cylindrical form as indicated? at 19y and of appreciably smaller diameter than the diameter ofthe outer casing A, the inner casing B being telescopedwithintheouter casing A. Said inner casing B' provides an outer cylindrical friction surface 20 for its entire length. The lengths of the two casings A andfBare made such that they may approach each other or telescope additionally for an amount corresponding toV the permissible stroke of the draft gear. i

y*The Viriction shoes C are preferably three 4in number, each extending through an are of approximately 4120", as shown in Figures 2 and 3'. Each shoe Cis'ofa lengthslightly less tha-n the length of the outer casing A and'wi'th Jehe outer end of the shoe G normallylocated slightly within the outer end o the casing A; Each shoe CV is provided on the outer sidethereo'f, as` shown. with a plurality of circumferentially extending ribs 21 spacedlongitudinally off the shoe, eac-h rib21 providing a wedge face or surface 22 and a transversely extending shoulder or abutment .3. The innerside oit each shoe C formed `to provide `a curved friction suriliace 24 cooperable with the friction surface 20` ofthe inner casing B.

` `The outer casing A is aperturcd as indif catedat 25 to correspond with the locations ot the ribs 21. One edge of" each opening` 25-in the outer casing A is beveled as indicated `at .)6'to thereby provide a wedge face or surface coopeiablewith the correspond ingrib 21. The oppositelend o1 each opening l25A provides` a shoulder' 27. Said shoulders 27 are spaced from the shoulders 23 of the ribs 21 and, in the ease of the centrally located openings 25, said shoulders 27 are spaced an appreciable distance from the transverse shoulders 23 of the intermediate ribs 2l. Opposite the central openings 25 of the casing A, the shoes C are correspondingly apertured as indicated at 28 so that the two alined openings of each set are adapted to accommodate one of the auxiliary springs E, as clearly shown in Figures l and 3. Each spring E is preferably seated at its ends over suitable lugs 29 and 30, formed respectively on the outer casing A and the corresponding' intermediate rib 2l. It will be noted that the springs E tend to shift the shoes C relatively to the casing A so as to always maintain the sets of wedge surfacesin contact.

The spring D is disposed 'within the inner casing' B and reacts at one end against the front follower 1S integral with the inner casingl I3 and, at its other end, against the wall l5 of the outer easing A. It will be noted that the springs E are confined to a space which is within the outer surface of the casing A and the inner surface of the correspending shoe C so that the springs E do not project outwardly and are thereby protected against injury.

rlhe operation of the device, in compression, is as follows. As the two casinos A and l'l are telescoped farther within each other, the shoes (l tend to travel with the inner casing' ll and thereby are forced radially in- 'ardly with `greater and greater pressure, thus gradually and automatically increasing the pressure between the shoes (l and the easing' B, with consequent building; up of frictional capacity. Upon removal of the actuating force,v the spring' D, previously compressed` expands, forcing' the casingrs A. and I3 apart, it being` evident that during 'this action the shoes C will readily release or collapse because of the comparatively'blunt angle of the wedge faces 22 and 2G. Any tendency of the shoes C to stiel( with the casincr B duringthe release action is readily overcome, inasmuch as the capacity of the spring D is very much greater than the combined capacity of the auxiliary springs E. As soon as the shoes C have released themselves and the casinos A and B have been restored to normal condition, or possibly at some intermediate time duringthe release action, the springs E will automatically maintain the shoes C in proper relation with the casing A, with the parts thus ready for another action.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate such changes and modifications as come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Asaid shoes and said member having` the wedge surfaces, tending to force said slices and said wedge surfaced member in opposite directions, said. additional spring` means be- .ing located within openings provided in said wedge surfaced member and shoes.

2. In a friction shock absorbing' mechanism, the combination with elongated telescoped hollow inner and outer casings, one of said casinos having` friction surfaces and the other oppositcly disposed wedge surfaces; of

elongated friction shoes interposed between l the tclcscoped casings, each shoe having` a friction surface on one side and wedge surfaces on the opposite side; a main spring resistance disposed within said inner casing and operative between the two casings to yieldingrly resist relative approach thereof; and additional spring means, associated with said shoes and the casing' having' the wedge surfaces, tending to force said shoes and wedge surfaced casino' in opposite directions, said additional spring' means being located within openings provided in said wedge surfaced casino' and shoes.

3. In a friction shock al'isorbine' mechanisni, the combination with elongated telescoped inner and outer members, said inner member beingA provided with exterior friction surfaces and the outer member beine' provided with wedge surfaces: of elongated friction shoes extending lengthwise of the mechanism beyond the center thereof, said shoes being' interposed between said telescoped members, each shoe having' a friction surface on its inner side co-extensive therewith, and wedge surfaces on its outer side; a main spring` resistance operative between said two members to yielding'ly resist relative approach thereof; and spring` means, associated with said shoes and outer member. tending' to force said shoes and outer member in opposite directions.

4f. In a friction shock absorbing' mecha-V nism, the combination with elongated telescoped inner and outer members, said inner member being provided with exterior frietion surfaces and the outer member beine,` provided with wedge surfaces; of elongated friction shoes interposed between saidtelescoped members, each shoe having` a friction surface on its inner side and wedge surfaces lltl on its outer side; a main spring resistance operative between said two members to yicldingly resist relative approach thereof; and additional spring means, associated with said slices and outer member, tending to force said shoes and outer member in opposite directions, said outer member and tionv shoes interposed between said tele-` scoped casings, each shoe having al friction surface on its inner side and a plurality of wedge surfaces on its outer side; a main `spring resistance disposed within the inner casing and operative between the two casings `to yieldingly resist relative approach thereof; and additional spring means, associated with said shoes and outer casing, tending to force said shoes and outer casing -in opposite directions.

`G. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with elongated telescoped inner and outer hollow casiiigs, the inner casing` having exterior rfriction surfaces and the outer casing having a plurality of wedge surfaces; of elongated friction shoes interposed between said telescoped casings, each shoe having a friction surface on its inner side and a plurality of wedge surfaces on its outer side; a main spring resistance disposed within the inner casing and operative between the two casings to vieldiiigly resist relative approach thereof; and "additional spring means, associated with said shoes and outer casing, tending to forcesaid shoes and outer casing in opposite directions, said outer casing and friction shoes having registering openings withing which said additional spring means are disposed.

7.` In a friction shock absorbing mechanisin, the combination with elongated telescoped inner and outer members, one of said members having friction surfaces and the other oppositely disposed wedge surfaces; ol' clongatt-zd friction shoes interposed be- `tween said telescoped members, each shoe having a friction surface on one side and wedge surfaces on 'the other side; a `main i spring resistance operative between said two members to yieldingly resist relative approach thereof; additional spring means, associa-ted with said slices and said member `having the wedge surfaces, tending to force said `shoes and said wedge surfaced member inopposite directions, said additional spring means being located within openings provided in said wedge surfaced member and shoes; a follower at one end of said inner member and integral therewith; and a follower at the opposite eiid of the outer member and integral therewith.

8. In a friction shock absorbing mech?.- nisin, the combination with elongated telescoped inner and outer members, one of said members having friction surfaces and-the other oppositely disposed wedge surfaces; of elongated friction shoes interposed between said telescoped members, each shoe having a friction surface on one side and wedge surfaces on the other sid`e;a main spring resistance operative between said two members to yieldingly resist relative approach thereof; additional spring means, associated with said shoes and said member having the wedge surfaces, tending to force said slices and said wedge surfaced member in opposite directions, said additional spring means being located within openings provided in said wedge surfaced member and shoes; and a plurality of retainer bolts anchored at one set of ends to the outer member to thereby hold the parts in assembled relation.

9. In a` friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a hollow outer casing having a plurality of wedge surfaces and openings opposite certain of said wedge surfaces; of an inner hollow casing telescoped within the outer casing and provided with exterior longitudinally extending friction surfaces; a plurality of elongated friction slices interposed between said two easiiigs, cach shoe having-a plurality of wedge surfaces on the exterior thereof coopelable with said wedge surfaces of the outer casing, each shoe having also an inner longitudinally extending friction surface cooperable with thefriction surface of the outer casing, each shoe having an opening` registering with one of said openings of the outer casing;` a main spring resistance disposed within tlie inner casing and reacting at one end against said inner casing and at its other end against the outer casing; and a plurality of coil springs, each located in a set of registering openings of the outer casing and corresponding friction shoe, said springs reacting between the outer casing and the shoes andv tending to force the latter longitudinally of the outer easing.

In witness that I claim the foregoing fl' have hereunto subscribed my naine this 30th day of June, 1922.

` JOHN F. OCON'NOR.

lVitnesses UNA C. Gniesr, ANN BAKER. 

